Can't get a passport or driving licence

[NoPoshMates]

NC for obvious reasons.

I'm getting really worried about my driving licence. It's still the old paper sort, but I've moved house and married since it was issued. I can now afford to send off for the photocard version, but since the new type came in, I haven't known anyone who's qualified to countersign it. I was born in England, as were my parents, but I can't get a passport for the same reason.

Two years ago I only knew 2 friends who were not relations and they are not 'posh enough' for the DVLA or Passport Office - a barmaid and the unemployed wife of a train driver. Literally just those two people, no acquaintances or anything.

I am a shy person and up to last year I rarely went out (for about 20 years) because we had no money. Although I have some more friends now, I only met them when we moved here a year ago and I don't know them well enough to expect them to lie for me, and I wouldn't want to do something like that anyway.

I'm worried sick that my driving licence isn't legal, and I want to put it right, but what can I do? I can't stop driving because my DH is disabled.

I managed to get married without needing a passport or driving licence. And I honestly don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to drive or leave the country, just because I don't have any friends who are librarians or magistrates.

What can I do?

[dementedpixie]

No they dont!! There is no requirement to get a countersignature for a photocard licence

[ArnoldBee]

So if you know a barmaid do you the pub landlord?

[etotheb]

I had the same issue!
Literally didn't get a passport all my life till last year because of this reason. And what I did was
I emailed my local mp councillor of the council and he replied straight away telling me he will ask some of his councillors.
A local labour mp of my area rang me and I went round the next day and got mine and my daughters counter signature form signed !

Try this ! They will want to help because you may vote for them!

[palahvah]

How about neighbours, or friends of your children?

[coconuttelegraph]

What is your job, does it not bring you into contact with anyone else at all?

[PancakeAndKeith]

What about friends or partners of your children?

[dementedpixie]

www.gov.uk/change-name-driving-licence - no mention of countersignature

[feliciabirthgiver]

You are over thinking this - there are only two professions that can not confirm your identity and that is anyone who works for the passport office and a doctor (unless you are friends with them or know them well).

Really any profession will be fine.

[dementedpixie]

you dont need a countersignature to change to a photocard licence

[Likethebattle]

Train driver friend!! Seriously!

[coconuttelegraph]

They will want to help because you may vote for them!

Surely that's a total fraud? How can they sign for someone they've never met?

[whyevencare]

@dementedpixie I agree, it was my first photo licence and I did not need it countersigned.
OP it will not be an issue, just get the D1 form and send it in.

[TheInvestigator]

@dementedpixie

To exchange the old paper license for a photocards license, this is what you need.

You’ll need to:

have your driving licence
be a resident of Great Britain
meet theminimum eyesight requirement
not be prevented from driving for any reason
pay £20 by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card
have a valid UK passport oranother form of identity
have your National Insurance number (if you know it)
provide addresses of where you have lived for the last 3 years

So she needs to have a passport. The other forms of identity cards are obscure and she most likely won't have those. So, to get the paper license turned into a photocard, she will need a passport. To get the passport, she needs someone to sign it.

[dementedpixie]

no she doesn't she cannot apply online to change her name so she fills in a D1 form instead

[isabellerossignol]

If you are self employed do you have a contact for your business bank account? Small business advisor at the bank you bank with? They could do it, assuming you actually have had contact with them and they know who you are.

[dementedpixie]

Fill in the application form

Fill in:

form D1 ‘Application for a driving licence’ if you have a car or motorbike licence form

D2 ‘Application for a lorry/bus licence’ if you have a lorry or bus licence

You canorder the forms fromDVLAor get them from most Post Offices.

Send your completed form toDVLAwith:

• your photocard or paper driving licence
  
• anyoriginal documentsthat confirm your new name or gender
  

If you have a paper driving licence

You must send a recentpassport-style photo

If you want to change your photo at the same time

You need to send:

a recentpassport-style photo
a cheque or postal order for £17, payable toDVLA(there’s no fee if you’re over 70 or have a medical short period licence)

[PoppingOneOutIn2020]

If a doctor or dentist has you on recked for 2 or more years they can sign it.

I think its 2 years anyway it's been a while since I've done one.

But they dont actually need to have an intimately close relationship with you to countersign it. Thel have your records, details and probably a signature form you at some point. That's more than enough to certify your identity.

[TheInvestigator]

Oooh! @NoPoshMates

You can use this instead of a passport or other obscure identity card.


You can use a UK birth, adoption or naturalisation certificate, but you must send it with one of the following:

National Insurance card or a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showing your National Insurance number
photocopy of the front page of a benefits book or an original benefits claim letter
P45, P60 or pay slip
marriage certificate or divorce papers (decree nisi or absolute)
a gender recognition certificate
college or university union card, education certificate orPASSproof of age card (issued after June 2014)

If your name or gender has changed

You must provide additional evidence if your name or gender has changed since your identity document or driving licence was issued.

If you’ve changed your name, you need to provide at least one of the following:

your marriage or civil partnership certificateyour decree nisi or decree absolute, along with your birth or adoption certificate, or UKcertificate of naturalisationadeed polla statutory declaration

So you can update your license with your birth certificate and a supporting piece of evidence from that list, plus proof of name change. Doesn't help with the passport but you can drive with an updated license.

[dementedpixie]

You absolutely do not need a passport to get a photocard licence. Read all the info on the page:

You can also apply in person or by post by completing form D1, which you can get from theDVLAform ordering serviceor from a Post Office.

You’ll also need to include:

• original identity documents
  
• a colour passport-type photograph
  
• the fee of £20 (if you’re applying by post make cheques or postal orders payable toDVLA-do not send cash)
  

Send all your documents to:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BU

[Mummy0ftwo12]

If you're self employed then maybe your accountant/book keeper, someone at the bank?

[TheInvestigator]

@dementedpixie
With the D1 form, you still need identify document for the first phorcard license. It's not as simply as just sending the photo. See above. They list passport as the identity document needed. To find the other list for if you do not have a passport, you need to follow links to get it.

OP, you can get your license. Just not a passport.

[Yubaba]

A pharmacist can sign it too, I’m a pharmacy technician and I’ve signed them for friends and never had an issue.
DH is a bank manager and he’s signed them too.

[BookWitch]

Phone the passport office t need a for advice, but when I was getting a passport issued a few years ago at the passport office on the four hour service, I didn't need a countersignatory because the passport office staff verified the photo looked like me.
I am going back about ten years, so do check, but it might be a case of a trip to a passport office.

[dementedpixie]

That's what I am saying, you dont need a passport to get the driving licence done. She would need to send marriage certificate to show name change

[SuzieSunshine]

Yes, sorry both mine were renewals but from reading the replies on here it doesn't sound like there will be a problem in getting some one to sign 'NoPoshMates' photos. Do the people who sign to verify the photos ever get checked?